Automatic mechanical cut-off or electrical heating appliances.



W. B. MATHESON & I. D. BRODEK. AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL GUT-OFP FOB. ELECTRIGAL HEATING APPLIANCES.

APPLICATION PILID JAN. 13. 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. B. MATHESON da I. D. BRODEK.

AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL CUT-OFF POR ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES.

APPLICATION FILID JAN.13, 1909.

952,68 1 Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT clarion.

WILLIVM B. MATI-IESON .AND ISIDQRE D. BRODK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ATOMATIC MECHANICALCUT-OFF FOR ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES.

* which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to an automatic 'mechanical cut-off and is applicable particul-arly in .connection with electrically heated laundry and tailoring. irons, but it is also applicable in other connections.

In the use of electrlc laundry or tailoring irons it frequently happens that the oper'- ator is called away from his work for a time and intentionally or inadvertently leaves the iron with the current-turned on, with the result that the heating element becomes unduly heated and surrounding objects are burned, and in some cases considerable damage results by ire or otherwise, as well as to the instrument itself.

Themain object of the present invention is to prevent such a contingency by providing means which automatically open the -operating circuit of the iron when it is placed in an inoperative position; as it is usual with the operator on. leaving the iron to turn it on end, this invention makes use of this operation as a means of opening the `circuit of the iron. 4

Other objects of the invention .will appear hereinafter. The accompanyingv drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the iron in a. position for use. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the iron in the position in which' it is placed` when not in use, showino the cut-oft' means in section. Fig. 3v is a tlongitudinal section of the cut-0H vmeans transverse to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa section on line $44# Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a partial diagrammatic elevation of a different form of the invention. Fig'. 6 is a section on the line :v6-fm in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the circuit connections.

Referringto Figs. 1 and 2 the iron comprises a body l in which is contained the fusual or any suitable heating element, not

shown, which is supplied with electrical energy through suitable terminal means 3.

4 represents a handle of theiron-connected to the body 1 by standards 5 and containing Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 13, 1909.

Serial No'. 472.134.

'a cut-off means hereinafter described. Handle 4 is preferably formed of insulating material and has an interior chamber 7 within which moves longitudinally the cut-oftl or switching device, consisting of an insulating block 8 carried by an electrically insulated stein or bar 9, and provided with contacts` l0 connected together by a metallic ring 11 -(see Fig. 4), said contacts being adapted to vengage contacts 12 fixed/,on the insulating block 13 at one end of the handle memberA 4. Said block is held in place by a screw cap member `15, also preferably of insulating material, Yscrewing on the outside of the handle member 4, or fastened by other means. Stem 9 is square or otherwise noncircular in shape and lits within a corresponding opening in Ithe block 13 so that the said stem can slide through-said opening, so that the stem or bar is mounted on the iron to be movable longitudinally there-v of, but is prevented from rotation. The inner end of the stemworks in a bore 18 at the inner end of va recess19 extending from the chamber 7, said recess containing Patented Mar. aa, Taio.

a helical spring 20 engaging with the inner end of the recess and with an insulating washer 8 bearing on the block 8 to press said block outwardly to circuit closing position. in this position of the block S the contacts 10 thereon engage with contacts l2 secured on the block member 13 by bolts 23, the outer ends 23 of which are formed as terminal pins for engagement with a connecting plug 25 `which is provided with The'v conn'ecsockets to receive saida pins. tiony of the automatic cut-off of the circuit may be variously provided for. In the form shown the usual plug terminals -3 on. the body of the iron are used, but the plug 27. therefor is connected to the plug 25 aforesaid at'one side. nThe wire 30 coming fromv the supply circuit provided, asindicated in Figs. l and 2, one side of the line going to oneside of plug 27, the other side of said l plug being connected to one side of plug 25 and the other side of said plug 25 being connected to thelotlier side of the line 30, so th/at the two plugs 27 and 25 are inseries -matic cut-out in the handle may be Connected directly in. series with the heating element .io-5l and .the heating elemental in body l and` ifio by connections as indicated in dotted lines': at 33 in Fig. 5, in which case the ordinary` connecting plug 27 is employed to connect the circuit to the heating element vin the body of the iron and to the automatic cutout.

The stem 9 carries at its outer end a button or head 34 and in the normal position of the iron, that is to say, when the iron is in use, this head projects beyond the rear end ot the iron, as shown in Fig. l, so that when the iron is tipped up on its rear end as shown in Fig. 2, the head 34twill engage with a sup ort indicated at 35 which may be the stan the ironing table or othery support and will thereby be shoved in so as to separate the contacts l() from the contacts l2, thereby opening the circuit.l On tipping the iron again in the position tor use, the spring 2O automatically throws the cut-out to closed position. In case it is desired to keep the cut-out in open or non-operative position irrespective ofthe position of the iron, a latch 36 may be provided, the latch being supported on the cap l5 and engaging with a notch 37 in .the stem 9 to hold the cut-out in an open or non-operative position. Said latch is located in convenient positionA for operation by the fingers, so that the head 34 on the stem 9 in connection with the said latch enables the cut-out to be used manually when desired for opening and closing the circuit of the iron. A guide 38 may be provided for latch 3G.

lhat we claim is:

1. The combination of the electric iron and operating electric connections of a switch connected in series with the iron, means for moving said switch to closed position and operating means tor said switch consisting of a bar mounted on the iron to be movable longitudinally of the iron and projecting from the iron in position to be engaged and moved longitudinally of the iron by a suitable support when the iron is placed on end on said support, to open the electric connection to the iron when the iron is so placed.

2. An electricviron comprising a body member operating electric connections for the iron and a switch in said connections in series with the iron, a spring pressing said switch to closed position, and a bar connected to the switch said bar being slidably mounted on the iron so as to be movable. longitudinally of the iron and extending from the iron in position to be engaged and moved longitudinally of the iron by a suitable support to open the switch when the iron is placed on end on said support.

3. An electric iron comprising a body member, a handle member, operating electric connections for the iron, and a cut-out for said connections, said cut-out being contained within the handle member, and an operating means for said cut-out consisting oi a bar slidably mounted on the handle member so to be movable longitudinally ot' the handle member and extending longitudinally from the handle member for engagement with a support when the iron is placed on end on said support to open the operating circuit for the iron by longitudinal movement ot the operating means, relatively to the handle.

4. A laundry or tailoring iron comprising a body member, a handle member, operating electric connections for the laundry or tailoring iron, and a cut-out for said connections, said cut-out being contained within the handle member, and an operating means for said cut-out extending longitudinally from the handle member for engagement with a support when the iron is placed in an inoperative position on said support to open the operating circuit for the iron, and means within the handle member pressing said cut-out to closed position.

5. A laundry or tailoring iron comprising a body member, a handle member, operating electric connections for the laundry or tailoring iron, and a, cut-out for said connections, said cut-out being contained within the handle member, and an operating means for said cut-out extending lonoitudinallffrom the handle member for engagement with a support when the iron is placed in an inoperative position` on said support to open the operating circuit for the iron, and means within the handle member pressing said cut-out to closed position, and a releasable detent means for holding the cutout in open position.

ln testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this 4th day of January, 1909.

' WlLLAM B. MATHESON.

ISIDORE D. BRODEK.

ln presence of- ARTHUR P. KNIGHT, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM. 

